Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has appealed to Nigerian women not to give in to challenges but continue to appreciate and perform their role as a critical success factor in nation-building.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, made the assertion on Tuesday when the Bayelsa chapter of the Women Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN) visited him in Government House, Yenagoa.
A press statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, quoted the Deputy Governor as saying that no nation that denies women of their rightful place in society could make any appreciable and sustainable progress.
Highlighting the responsibilities of women, he described Christian women as indispensable to building a virile church and a peaceful society where love and the fear of God prevail.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo pointed out that every child passes through the care and nurture of a mother, who is expected to play a greater role of imparting the right values of both family and society in the children.
According to him, deviants such as prostitutes, cultists, armed robbers and treasury looters in society were given birth to by a mother, hence the woman has a peculiar responsibility as the first teacher of every child that comes into the world.
He commended Christian women, especially members of WOWICAN, for their continued fervent prayers for the church and the nation, but restated the need for Christians to be united in protecting their faith from internal and external adversarial forces.
The Deputy Governor, who congratulated the new leadership of WOWICAN on their successful inauguration, charged them to work harder to achieve more than their predecessors.
Responding to their requests, he said government would support some of the Association’s programmes including the hosting of its regional conference within limits of available resources.
His words: “Every woman has children under her care. Women have done much, but they have not done as much as we desire, hence our society is what it is today.
“Every woman is the mother of a child. Every prostitute, cultist, armed robber and treasury looter is owned by parents. Without exonerating the men, I believe mothers can play a better role in bringing up children. And that is why they must be supported in society.
“As Christian women, you should build the church and society from your homes. Teach and advise your children.
WOWICAN should take your focus beyond the current threshold, because if you fail in your objectives, you have failed in your duty to the church and society.
” In my view, the Church is divided and for that, our very existentiality as the body of Christ is threatened. Whatever you undermine, undermines you. Our pulpit message must be recalibrated.
“Focus on what your children and husbands do. Let’s stop the rush for prophecy and let’s not spiritualize everything.”
Earlier in her remarks, the state Chairperson, Women Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria, WOWICAN, Mrs. Grace Iyabi, highlighted the Association’s key objectives to include fostering unity among Christians, support for evangelism and the protection of Christian women’s rights.
Mrs. Iyabi pleaded with government to support WOWICAN in hosting the South South conference in Bayelsa next month, as well as providing logistics for its members to participate at the National Convention billed for Enugu State in October this year.
